Article of footwear that is waterproof, wear-resistant, and lightweight

ABSTRACT

An article of footwear includes a sole body ( 2 ) having a front region, a mounting groove formed in a top surface thereof and having a groove bottom wall, and a retaining groove formed in the groove bottom wall. A support plate is disposed in the retaining groove. An upper includes a vamp part connected to and extending above the front region and having a rear edge, and left and right sidewalls extending upwardly and respectively from left and right ends of the sole body. An instep strap includes an instep abutment strap section extending convexedly from one of the sidewalls toward the other sidewall, spaced apart from the rear edge of the vamp part, and having first and second ends. One of the first and second ends is integrally connected as one piece with one of the sidewalls. A foot arch correction device is supported by the support plate.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority of Taiwanese Application No. 098131064, filed on Sep. 15, 2009.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to an article of footwear, more particularly to an article of footwear that is waterproof, wear-resistant, and lightweight.

2. Description of the Related Art

Many kinds of foot arch correction devices are known for correcting foot arches of the users. For example, Taiwanese Patent Nos. 1289055, M244062, and M249630. The foot arch correction device generally has a special curved body. When the user's foot steps on the foot arch correction device, the user's foot is forced to press against the curved body of the foot arch correction device to improve dynamic mechanism of the foot portion to thereby restore the user's foot to normal foot arch.

The foot arch correction device is usually installed in shoes having a solid and thick sole that can provide a stable supporting force, such as casual shoes and leather shoes. However, casual and leather shoes are not suitable for use in wet or muddy places, such as in kitchens, bathrooms, outdoor vegetable gardens or farms, etc. Slippers are often used for such areas because they are light and waterproof, and are conveniently slipped on and off. To allow an article of footwear to be wearable in different kinds of settings and work requirements, the applicant has installed the foot arch correction device in conventional footwear that is waterproof and lightweight, such as the locally known “Bush shoes” which are made of soft plastic foamed material. However, the applicant found that because the material of such conventional footwear is soft, the foot arch correction device is not well supported, so that the correction function of the foot arch correction device cannot be utilized. Hence, conventional waterproof and lightweight footwear cannot be directly installed with the foot arch correction device. If the foot arch correction device is to be directly installed into conventional footwear, because it occupies a substantial space, a space for insertion of the user's foot is minimized. As a result, it becomes uncomfortable to wear such conventional footwear.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide an article of footwear that is waterproof and wear-resistant, that is lightweight, and that can be suitably installed with a foot arch correction device.

According to this invention, an article of footwear comprises a sole body, an upper, an instep strap, and a foot arch correction device. The sole body is made of a lightweight, wear-resistant, waterproof material, and has a front region, a heel region, and a middle region between the front and heel regions. The sole body includes a support plate made of a material harder than the sole body and disposed in the sole body, a filling pad disposed in the sole body and covering the support plate, and front and rear tread members respectively attached to front and rear bottom faces of the sole body. The sole body further has amounting groove that is formed in a top surface thereof and that has a groove bottom wall, and a retaining groove formed in the groove bottom wall. The support plate is disposed in the retaining groove. The filling pad is disposed in the mounting groove. The upper is integrally connected as one piece with the sole body, and includes a vamp part connected to and extending above the front region and having a rear edge, a rear wall extending upwardly from the heel region, and left and right sidewalls extending upwardly and respectively from left and right ends of the sole body and having front ends connected to the rear edge of the vamp part, and rear ends connected to the rear wall. The instep strap is disposed rearwardly of the upper, and includes an instep abutment strap section extending convexedly from one of the left and right sidewalls toward the other one of the left and right sidewalls and having first and second ends. One of the first and second ends is integrally connected as one piece with one of the left and right sidewalls. The instep abutment strap section is spaced apart from the rear edge of the vamp part. The foot arch correction device is supported by the support plate.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an article of footwear according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional side view of the first preferred embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a sectional rear view of the first preferred embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a sectional top view of the first preferred embodiment; and

FIG. 5 is a sectional top view of an article of footwear according to the second preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Before the present invention is described in greater detail, it should be noted that like elements are denoted by the same reference numerals throughout the disclosure.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, an article of footwear according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown to comprise a sole body 2, an upper 3, an instep strap 4, a heel strap 5, and a foot arch correction device 6.

The sole body 2 is shaped to correspond to that of a user's foot 1 (see FIG. 2), and is made of a lightweight, wear-resistant, and waterproof material. In this embodiment, the sole body 2 is made of an ethylene-vinyl-acetate (EVA) foam material. The sole body 2 has a front region (FR), a heel region (HR), a middle region (MR) between the front and heel regions (FR, HR), and a mounting groove 211 formed in a top surface thereof at the middle region (MR). The mounting groove 211 has a groove bottom wall 213 formed with a retaining groove 212 at the center thereof. The sole body 2 includes a support plate 22, a filling pad 23, and front and rear tread members 24, 24′. The support plate 22 is embedded in the retaining groove 212, extends in a front-rear direction, has a raised central portion 221 adapted to match the shape of a foot arch of the user's foot 1, and is made of a material harder than that of the sole body 2. In this embodiment, the support plate 22 is made of metal, and can provide a hard support function. The filling pad 23 is embedded in the mounting groove 211, covers the support plate 22, and is made of an ethylene-vinyl-acetate (EVA) foam material. The front and rear tread members 24, 24′ are attached respectively to front and rear bottom faces of the sole body 2. Each of the front and rear tread members 24, 24′ may be made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or a rubber material which has a good anti-slip characteristic.

The upper 3 is integrally connected as one piece with the sole body 2, is made of an ethylene-vinyl-acetate (EVA) foam material, and includes a vamp part 31 connected to and extending above the front region (FR) and having a rear edge 312, a rear wall 34 extending upwardly from the heel region (HR), and left and right sidewalls 32, 33 that extend upwardly and respectively from left and right ends of the sole body 2, that are located respectively on two opposite sides of the user's foot 1, and that respectively have front ends connected to the rear edge 312 of the vamp part 31, and rear ends connected to the rear wall 34. The vamp part 31 and the sole body 2 cooperatively define a foot-receiving opening 311. The vamp part 31 is not limited to that illustrated in the drawings. The vamp part 31 may be designed differently according to one's desire. For example, the vamp part 31 may be provided with a hole (not shown) that communicates spatially with the foot-receiving opening 311, or a plurality of decorative pieces (not shown) may be adhered to an outer surface of the vamp part 31. The sidewalls 32, 33 further have upwardly extending protrusions 321, 331 projecting upwardly and respectively therefrom. The upper 3 further includes a protective piece 35 connected to a top face of the vamp part 31 and having a tough body made of reinforcing fibers. The protective piece 35 can strengthen the protective covering of the vamp part 31 so as to prevent injury of the user's foot 1.

The instep strap 4 is disposed rearwardly of and is spaced apart from the upper 3, and is spaced apart from the rear edge 312 of the vamp part 31 at a distance (47). The instep strap 4, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, includes an instep abutment strap section 41, an extension strap section 43, and a buckle 42. The instep abutment strap section 41 extends convexedly from the left sidewall 32 toward the right sidewall 33, and has a plurality of loop fasteners 44 provided on an outer surface thereof, a first end 411 connected integrally as one piece with the left sidewall 32 at the protrusion 321, and a second end 412 opposite to the first end 411. In this embodiment, the extension strap section 43 is connected integrally as one piece with the second end 412 of the instep abutment strap section 41, and has a plurality of hook fasteners 45 to engage releasably the loop fasteners 44. A soft pad 46 is mounted to an inner surface of the instep abutment strap section 41. The buckle 42 is connected to the protrusion 331. The extension strap section 43 extends through the buckle 42, and is folded back over the instep abutment strap section 41 so as to inter-engage the hook and loop fasteners 45, 44.

Since the instep abutment strap section 41, the upper 3, and the sole body 2 are made integrally as a one-piece body, the manufacture thereof is easy. Further, when the user's foot 1 is in contact with the instep abutment strap section 41, the presence of the soft pad 46 on the inner surface of the instep abutment strap section 41 provides a protective cushion to the user's foot 1. In this embodiment, the extension strap section 43 is connected integrally as one piece with the second end 412 of the instep abutment strap section 41. However, in an alternative embodiment, the extension strap section 43 may be a separate single strap that is connected to the second end 412 of the instep abutment strap section 41.

In use, the extension strap section 43 is passed through the buckle 42, and is folded back over the instep abutment strap section 41 to lock the instep strap 4 to a selected adjustment length and to position the user's foot 1 in the foot-receiving opening 311. At this time, the instep abutment strap section 41 abuts and surrounds the cuneiform bone 11 of the user's foot 1 in proximity to the rear edge 312 of the vamp part 31.

The heel strap 5 extends above the rear wall 34, and includes a heel abutment strap section 51 and an extension strap section 52. The heel abutment strap section 51 has a plurality of loop fasteners 53, a first end 511 fixed to a buckle 42′ provided on the protrusion 321, and a second end 512 opposite to the first end 511. The extension strap section 52 is connected integrally as one piece with the second end 512 of the heel abutment strap section 51, and is provided with a plurality of hook fasteners 54. A soft pad 55 is mounted to an inner surface of the heel abutment strap section 51. The extension strap section 52 extends through the buckle 42′, and is folded back over the heel abutment strap section 51 so as to inter-engage the hook and loop fasteners 54, 53, thereby locking the heel strap 5 to a selected adjustment length.

The foot arch correction device 6 is supported by the support plate 22, and is connected detachably to the sole body 2 through hook and loop fasteners 25, 62 provided respectively on the top surface of the sole body 2 at the heel region (HR) and a bottom surface of the foot arch correction device 6. The foot arch correction device 6 can be made and sold separately from the other components of the article of footwear of the present invention.

In use, when the user's foot 1 is inserted into the foot-receiving opening 311, and steps on the foot arch correction device 6, the instep strap 4 is adjusted so that the instep abutment strap section 41 abuts and surrounds the cuneiform bone 11 of the user's foot 1, and the heel strap 5 is adjusted so that the heel abutment strap section 51 abuts and surrounds the heel portion of the user's foot 1, as best shown in FIG. 2, thereby positioning the user's foot 1 on the article of footwear of the present invention. Through the rigidity of the support plate 22 to support the foot arch correction device 6, when the user steps on the ground, the correction function of the foot arch correction device 6 can be effectively utilized.

With reference to FIG. 5, an article of footwear according to the second preferred embodiment of the present invention is similar to the first preferred embodiment. The difference between the first and second preferred embodiments resides in the configuration of the support plate 22. In this embodiment, the support plate 22 includes a longitudinal strip 221, and a plurality of transverse parts 222 projecting transversely and respectively from left and right sides of the longitudinal strip 221. The number of the transverse parts 222 may be increased or decreased according to the requirement. Through the presence of the transverse parts 222, the rigidity of the sole body 2 can be further enhanced.

From the aforementioned description, it is apparent that the article of footwear of the present invention has the support plate 22 embedded within the sole body 2 so as to increase the longitudinal rigidity of the sole body 2 at the center thereof, after which the filling pad 23 covers the support plate 22. The foot arch correction device 6 can then be connected detachably to the sole body 2, and is supported by the support plate 22, so that the correction function thereof can be effectively utilized. Hence, the foot arch correction device 6 can be mounted suitably to the article of footwear of the present invention. Further, the article of footwear of the present invention is provided with the adjustable instep strap 4 to suit the feet of different users, and the instep strap 4 is provided with the soft pad 46 on the inner surface thereof to thereby provide comfort during wear of the article of footwear of the present invention.

While the present invention has been described in connection with what are considered the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretations and equivalent arrangements. 

1. An article of footwear comprising: a sole body made of a lightweight, wear-resistant, waterproof material, and having a front region, a heel region, and a middle region between said front and heel regions, said sole body including a support plate made of a material harder than said sole body and disposed in said sole body, a filling pad disposed in said sole body and covering said support plate, and front and rear tread members respectively attached to front and rear bottom faces of said sole body, said sole body further having a mounting groove that is formed in a top surface thereof and that has a groove bottom wall, and a retaining groove formed in said groove bottom wall, said support plate being disposed in said retaining groove, said filling pad being disposed in said mounting groove; an upper integrally connected as one piece with said sole body, and including a vamp part connected to and extending above said front region and having a rear edge, a rear wall extending upwardly from said heel region, and left and right sidewalls extending upwardly and respectively from left and right ends of said sole body and having front ends connected to said rear edge of said vamp part, and rear ends connected to said rear wall; an instep strap disposed rearwardly of said upper and including an instep abutment strap section extending convexedly from one of said left and right sidewalls toward the other one of said left and right sidewalls and having first and second ends, one of said first and second ends being integrally connected as one piece with one of said left and right sidewalls, said instep abutment strap section being spaced apart from said rear edge of said vamp part; and a foot arch correction device supported by said support plate.
 2. The article of footwear of claim 1, further comprising a heel strap connected adjustably to said left and right sidewalls and extending above said rear wall.
 3. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein said support plate extends in a front-to-rear direction, and is disposed in said middle region of said sole body.
 4. The article of footwear of claim 5, wherein said support plate has a raised central portion adapted to match the shape of a foot arch of the user's foot.
 5. The article of footwear of claim 5, wherein said support plate includes a longitudinal strip, and a plurality of transverse parts projecting transversely and respectively from left and right sides of said longitudinal strip. 